AN HMP Bullingdon prisoner caught with a 'shank' weapon in his cell has been handed more time in jail.

When prison guards raided the cell of John Garcia 'looking for alcohol' they instead found the makeshift weapon hidden behind a television.

The 21-year old had fused two toothbrushes connected to a strong piece of wire, forming a seven inch long weapon.

Garcia had already admitted before magistrates one count of without lawful authority possessing inside a prison an offensive weapon.

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Outlining the case at his sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday prosecutors said that prison officers were initially suspicious that Garcia had alcohol in his cell.

At about 5pm on December 2 last year they raided the shared room and instead of finding booze they saw Garcia 'acting suspiciously' behind a TV.

Searching the cell officers found what they termed a 'shank' - an improvised weapon - measuring about seven inches in length.

Garcia, who is serving a three-year jail sentence for dealing class A drugs, and is set to deported at the end of that sentence, admitted having the weapon straight away.

In mitigation at the hearing his defence barrister Amy Woolsfon said that the weapon was not a bladed article and was not used to threaten or harm anybody.

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She added that any further term of imprisonment would only delay his deportation out of the UK to his native Angola.

Sentencing Judge Ian Pringle QC said that while the weapon was not a knife it was a 'most unpleasant article to have in prison'.

Garcia was jailed for six months which will run consecutive to his current jail term.

He must also pay a statutory victim surcharge.